Students take nucleic acid tests at Soochow University on Feb 3. [Photo/ourjiangsu.com]

Soochow University in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province, offered free nucleic acid tests to 2,236 students on Feb 3 who are planning to return to their hometowns during the Spring Festival holiday.

The school's move saves students from the hassle of arranging their own tests and also helps strengthen the school's closed-off management scheme, as the winter holiday started on Jan 16.

Nucleic acid tests were delivered by medical workers from the first, second, and children's hospitals affiliated with Soochow University. They directed students to line up, wear masks, have their temperatures taken, and have their personal information registered before being tested.

Students can check their test results one to two days after the test via a mobile app of the State Council or on the official WeChat accounts of the hospitals.

"I can take the nucleic acid test on campus, which is safer than going out on my own," said Guan Yajun, a postgraduate student at the university's law school.

Hu Wenhua from the college of pharmacy, who will take a high-speed train back to her hometown in Xianning, Central China's Hubei province, said she will strengthen her self-quarantine precautions and avoid unnecessary contact with relatives.

Many students were late planning their returns home due to scientific research, their studies, and because some of their hometowns are designated medium or high-risk areas. The National Health Commission requires that from Jan 28, people traveling across provinces must present a negative nucleic acid test result.

Students take free masks offered by the school. [Photo/ourjiangsu.com]